Today was the first day since the World Cup started that I actually had to work. Like in an office. Fortunately that office had a TV that was showing all of the games and I caught parts of the Brazil - Croatia game. Turns out, I didn't miss too much, other than what was probably a decently exciting Korean comeback over Togo (though the question needs to be asked: Why did Korea have to come back vs. Togo?). France and Switzerland tied at zero. Blah.

US vs. Italy on Saturday: Ives Galarcep suggests a revamped lineup.

Other thoughts:

Mark Warner: my favored presidential candidate for 2008*, as regular readers know. Turns out, he is getting big, particularly among the "netroots", and partially because his outreach has been outstanding. He is out there, talking to people, listening, and getting involved in online fora. Doing video podcasts, experimenting with new technology. He is hiring the right people, who really understand online activism. He is a new, fresh presence with no Washington baggage.

Sound familiar? To me it does. Rewind to late 2001 - I started following the seemingly quixotic campaign of a little-known governor. He was a progressive, largely centrist, a strong believer in free-trade and the new economy, as well as keeping government out of our doctor's offices and bedrooms. He formed an early alliance with the online community, building a symbiotic and very positive relationship.

I'm not saying Mark Warner is Howard Dean, because he isn't But what will be interesting to watch: How does Mark Warner's embrace of the online community affect the way he is covered and even framed by the national media? Will he be branded a fiery, Bush-hating communist like Dean was? Because he's about as far from that as you can get, and about as good of an example of someone who could heal lots of wounds and bring people together as there is. But then so was Dean, until they cut him up and spit him out.
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*Al Gore still says he ain't runnin.